iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 4m

At @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social where both ‘The History of Concrete’ and ‘The Incomer’ are my kind of jams. And the jam I have selected is:

Movie poster art for the movie ‘The Incomer’ a full color illustration of the three cast leads in front of a scenic mountain backdrop

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 20h

At lunchtime today I took an after-the-rain walk through Bemis Woods with Salt Creek running high and fast, and pop-up marshes among the trees. There are hints of fall color, but two days of rain had most everything lush and green.

Looking west from a bridge crossing a very full Salt Creek in Bemis Woods in Western Springs, Illinois.

Water ponding amongst the trees in Bemis Woods in Western Springs, Illinois.

A muddy path dappled in sunlight winds through the trees of Bemis Woods in Western Springs, Illinois.

Trees and undergrowth in sunlight at Bemis Woods in Western Springs, Illinois.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Here's an easy add to my #OHC2026 itinerary.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Taps on @starshapedpress.bsky.social sign. Welcome to my favorite month of the year in my favorite city in the world.

Letterpress printing in brass and bronze lettering on dark brown card stock: CHICAGO
IS AN OCTOBER SORT OF CITY
-NELSON ALGREN

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Life seems better when the White Sox are winning.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

What the hell. I'm so sorry. Wishing you the best.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I saw this beauty in my rearview mirror as I drove west to work. That was enough sunrise to also give me a pale morning rainbow through my windshield on the same commute. 🌅🌧️🌈

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Man, everything about this screams terrible, especially the worst "rock band on a beach" album cover since Emerson Lake and Palmer.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I really like "Walking on the Sun." I even have it on a promo CD single that I fished out of a dollar bin 25 years ago so I didn't have to buy Fush Yu Mang. And I share Tom's 1/10 hate for "All Star." Classic Breihan diss: "You don't get a bonus point just for not being "One Week."

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Albums: O’Jays ‘Back Stabbers’ & ‘Ship Ahoy’. Spinners ‘Spinners’ (1973), Harold Melvin & Bluenotes ‘I Miss You’, MFSB ‘Love Is the Message’. Although limited to Gamble & Huff productions, this compilation is streaming and front-to-back fantastic.

Apple Music screenshot:
The Philly Sound
KENNY GAMBLE LEON HUFF & THE STORY OF BROTHERLY LOVE (1968-1976)
Various Artists

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Carla dal Forno was absolutely charming. Singing bedroom pop songs over backing tracks and live bass probably would not work everywhere but it worked last night at the Bottle. Bonus: home before midnight.

Carla dal Forno (right) singing onstage at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. Her bass player Lucy is on the left.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

It’s just like 2006 again: Me at the Empty Bottle on a school night to see a three-artist bill that starts at 9pm. But it’s Carla dal Forno headlining so I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

The chalkboard outside of the Empty Bottle advertising a show headlined by Carla dal Forno and support from Zelienople and Erik Kramer.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I got out of this year’s Lit Fest easy as my home pile of unshelved and unread books kept the brakes on. I did get these good ones from @beltpublishing.bsky.social.

Two books on an oak floor:
‘The Architecture of Chicago's Beverly Hills/ Morgan Park’ Photographs by Mati Maldre
SONYA HUBER ‘LOVE AND INDUSTRY
A MIDWESTERN WORKBOOK’

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

At the Printers Row Lit Fest. People still like books and reading!

Looking south down Dearborn Street in Chicago where white tents have been placed as cover for booksellers, publishers and authors at the Printer’s Row Lit Fest. Many people are stopped at or walking past the tents.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

While it still feels like summer outside, one way I know that fall is approaching is that Open House Chicago is doing its unveiling of sites, including these new ones. openhousechicago.org/itineraries/...

openhousechicago.org

Come see the sites that are making their Open House Chicago debut this year. Let's give them a hearty welcome!

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Reposted by Bob Schaefer

Michael McLean @michaelmclean.me · 04/09/2026

Just made a new Chicago bot. Follow for @chicagobuoys.bsky.social for all the latest readings from 'Chuoy' the buoy, pictured here. bsky.app/profile/chic...

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Reposted by Bob Schaefer

Belt Publishing @beltpublishing.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

A long-awaited title is finally available for preorder! As usual, a wide variety of info on display: neighborhoods that have survived the most foreclosures, where to grab a Chicago dog, or where peregrine falcons have been spotted. I’d love to hear guesses/predictions for what else made it in!

tinyurl.com

Chicago in 50 Maps

By Daniel Block & Andrea Craft April 6, 2027 This is a pre-order. Copies will ship in April 2027. Creative, colorful, original new maps of Chicago from local cartographers. For Chicagoans new and ...

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Squeeze are a great live band and were especially ballsy in playing the whole of their new album of 53year old songs in the middle of their set. And when the hits hit, the picnickers of Ravinia happily sang along. Not my favorite venue, but the music and company made for a good night out.

Glenn Tilbrook of the band Squeeze captured on the big video screen of Ravinia.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Illuminated trees between sets at Ravinia.

Trees illuminated from below at night at Ravinia Festival.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Adam Ant can’t sing anymore and was at half speed trying to replicate his 80s dance moves. But respect for the double drums and playing “Zerox” and “Car Trouble.” Only “Beat My Guest” would have been a more welcome set inclusion.

Adam Any as viewed on a big screen projection at Ravinia. He’s wearing a white cowboy hat and singing out of key.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Now playing at Ravinia: the Cicadas.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Hey, Haircut 100 got a half hour to play as an opener, and they played as many songs from their good new album as they did from their good 44 year old first album. They were fun.

Haircut 100’s Nick Heyward as viewed on a screen from the lawn at the Ravinia.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

At Ravinia for Squeeze and savoring some Fascist Tears.

A paisley covered table containing foodstuffs a can of MINOCQUA BREWING COMPANY
FASCIST TEARS® PALE ALE
柴
THEIR FRUSTRATION BREWED FOR YOUR INEBRIATION

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Reposted by Bob Schaefer

Natalie Weiner @natalieweiner.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

obsessed with this from @racketmn.com. one of my core principles is that we need like 20x as much scene/street style photography from media outlets as we have. it's so wonderful racketmn.com/enjoy-43-lov...

racketmn.com

Enjoy 43 Lovely Portraits of Minnesotans Thriving at the 2026 MN State Fair - Racket

At the Great Minnesota Get-Together, humanity shines as bright as the midday Midway sun.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Pulling Mussels. That's not a slight on Tempted, which is a great song, but seems less Squeeze-like by having Paul Carrack sing it. Pulling Mussels is maybe the quintessential Squeeze song: lyric, melody, Glenn guitar solo, Chris/Glenn co-lead vox on chorus, Jools piano flourishes.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I did see Rick Rizzo solo (opening for Steve Wynn) since then, so I haven't been completely bereft.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

It's been 3 1/2 years since I last saw Eleventh Dream Day, which is the longest interval since I first started seeing them and will thankfully be set right next month.

Poster display advertising a live performance by the band Eleventh Dream Day at the Hideout in Chicago on October 21. Assuming I attend this, it will be my 15th EDD show. Tickets: https://www.hideoutchicago.com/shows/eleventh-dream-day-21-oct#tickets

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I am so busted. And so Midwest/upper Great Lakes.

Screenshot of the results of https://mydialect.us/quiz-standard.html with a map of the USA indicating my dialect is a medium deep orange and I mostly likely talk like someone from the state of Illinois. I have lived in the Chicago area most of my life.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

"Welcome to the Occupation" and "Disturbance at the Heron House" The first new album I ever bought on CD. I also saw them live on this tour. This album meant a lot to me at the time. It means less so now compared to some of their catalog, but is still very very good.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

And not one photo from the Northwestern campus.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Full moon, part two: lunar eclipse. Glad the clouds cleared out and provided some atmosphere around the sky show.

A 95% eclipse of the moon, surrounded by cumulus clouds illuminated by the city of Chicago below.

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Reposted by Bob Schaefer

Lake Michigan @lakemichigan13.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Lake Ontario forever 🌊🌊

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Central Indiana. Tops of trees in sound and motion. There’s some birdsong and cicadas amongst the leaf rustling too. 🌳🌳🌳

The tops of green leafy trees below a bright blue sky.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

“Bus Stop” is one of the greatest songs of all time, a wonderful story in a 3-minute pop song. Fab arrangement, glorious harmonies.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Poor Forest Park. Repped by a gravestone, a train yard, and an Office Depot that is in Cermak Plaza at 22nd & Harlem in Berwyn.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

This view returning to Chicago never gets old, even when filtered through haze and low clouds and partially obscured by airplane wing.

The downtown Chicago lakefront and skyline looking south as viewed from an airplane on approach to O’Hare airport from over Lake Michigan.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Saw and heard this and was wondering if this was the same Kathy Smith of Gordon Lightfoot “Sundown” and John Belushi speedball infamy because that is where my mind goes, and no, that was a “C" Cathy Smith.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Many people paying tribute to rock critic Dave Marsh, and with good reason. These are among the first books I owned about what could broadly be described as rock music. Even then I knew he could be full of shit about what he loved and hated, but he pointed me to a lot of the good stuff. R.I.P.

Three books written or cowritten by music critic/ writer Dave Marsh, who died today. Left to right: The New Rolling Stone Record Guide, The Heart of Rock & Soul: the 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made, The Book of Rock Lists

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Need to fire up the iPod Classic to relive 2006-2008. Or its music anyway.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Playing this in full for the first time in maybe 17 of those 20 years. ‘Writer’s Block’ meant a lot to me back then. And even though it means a lot less to me now, and “Young Folks” became annoyingly ubiquitous, holy shit, does this album hold up. “Up Against the Wall”…jeezus.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Between meetings at a client, up amongst the rooftops. Typically this would be a good place to watch the practice runs for the Chicago Air & Water Show if you’re into that, but the air is thick and the visibility is poor, so no screaming fighter jet sounds or visuals today.

View from the 11th floor sky garden at Lurie Children’s Hospital looking southeast amongst the buildings of the Streeterville neighborhood in Chicago. The sky is gray, foggy and cloudy.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

That window in the dormer addition is…something. At least the awning ties it all together!

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Downtown Chicago on a summertime Sunday. Alive and well.

Cloud Gate aka “The Bean” in Millennium Park in Chicago with a typically large crowd around it. The skyline of the Loop is beyond under mostly cloudy skies.

Looking west down Washington Street from Millennium Park in Chicago.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Finom, second set at the MCA Terrace with V. V. Lightbody joining in on bass. They are so good!

Finom under a white tent cover on the MCA Terrace with (left to right) Sima Cunningham on guitar, V. V. Lightbody joining in on bass, Spencer Tweedy on drums and Macie Stewart on guitar.

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

120 minutes with Finom at Tuesdays on the Terrace at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. One of my favorite bands al fresco playing deep cuts on a near perfect night.

The band Finom playing on a tented stage at the outdoor terrace of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago with gray and blue haired people seated in the foreground. Sima Cunningham on guitar (left) and Macie Stewart (right) on violin

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Just the jolt I needed. Thank gosh for the Jazz Butcher (and RIP Pat and Max).

Screenshot of an Apple Music play of the song “She’s A Yo-yo” from the 1991 album ‘Condition Blue’ by The Jazz Butcher

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Bob Schaefer @bobszilla.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Probably my favorite Verlaines song, which is saying something. Once again wondering aloud what was in the water in Dunedin NZ in the 1980s.

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